Reorganizing American Defenses: The United States Air Force in the Post-Cold War World
Abstract
The end of the Cold War both necessitates and provides a great opportunity for restructuring U.S. combatant commands and Air Force forces to better support American security interests in the emerging world order. As U.S. forces return to America and reduce in size, they must be reorganized into more flexible, more mobile, more tailorable units that can operate jointly in many different climates and operational circumstances. U.S.-based functional combatant commands also should be reorganized and streamlined. However, as U.S. forces reduce in size and come home, American geographic combatant command headquarters should remain in place, providing a nucleus of theater expertise and forward presence in a security environment that is increasingly regionalized and multipolar in character. These headquarters should establish close ties with Continental U.S. (CONUS) reinforcement forces to provide for rapid deployment and forward operations. Air components should maintain overseas agreements and facilities for rapid reinforcement by CONUS air forces structured for composite operations along the lines of the numbered air forces of World War II. These composite numbered air forces should be organized "modularly" to be able to deploy and operate under a wide range of available facilities and C3I, enemy threats, weather conditions, and the presence of joint or combined friendly forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 16, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA258375
Entities
People
- Timothy N. Carey
Organizations
- Air War College